FRE 2218

IMAGE

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A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe. L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, South Caroline, Sergeant Waldon D Cohen, Ball-turret gunner of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Sergeant Harold J Kelsen, waist gunner, of Brooklyn NY, Sergeant Robert V Kerr, tail-gunner of Montesano, Washington, S/Sgt Benjamin C Misser, radio-operator, of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, [Lieutenant Wardlow Hammond, co-pilot, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], Lieutenant Walter B Keith, pilot of Hodgeville Kentucky, who is talking to Captain RJ White, of Kingsport Tennessee, who rescued the navigator Lieutenant King [a censor has obscured the navigator's name] from the blazing bomber. Gai. December 11th 1943. PN.' Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’

Connections

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Units

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe. L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, Sout
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White. Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of K
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White. Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of K
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-802411
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their new B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'RF.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Flying Fortress Crew Back In Action Following Crash On English Village. Photo Shows:- Some of the crew walking from their new ship at a station "somewhere in England". L.-R.:- T/Sgt. William D. Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, South Carolina; Sergeant Waldon D. Cohen, Ball-turret gunner, of Altoona, Pennsylvania; Sgt. H
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe. L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, Sout
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295794.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '5/12/43 B-17 Crash 401 BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Zenobia El Elephante
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection